# 2378
On September 25th the following report appeared on the newswires, indicating that NAMRU-2, or Naval Medical Research Unit #2 based in Jakarta, had been closed.
Thursday September 25, 2008
Indonesia halts U.S. naval lab's activities
JAKARTA (Reuters) - Indonesia has halted the activities of a U.S. naval medical lab in Jakarta following a dispute over the terms of a contract, the health minister said on Thursday.
Our NAMRU lab, based in Jakarta since 1970, has been embroiled in a 2-year battle with the Indonesian government. Health Minister Supari has claimed that the lab provides no benefit the Indonesian people and has suggested that it is engaged in nefarious activities.
Most of this has been viewed by onlookers as little more than political theatre.
But late last month Minister Supari indicated the lab had been shut down.
Today, courtesy of the US Army's Health Information Operations Weekly Update we learn that it ain't necessarily so . . .
Clarification regarding NAMRU-2
Last week’s HIO Weekly Update included an article about Naval Medical Research Unit-2 in Jakarta, Indonesia that Reuters titled “Indonesia halts U.S. naval lab's activities.”
Despite the misleading title, the article also stated that, “Retno Marsudi, Indonesian directorate general for America and Europe relations, said the contract with Washington to operate the lab had not been terminated.”
In addition, feedback from informed sources indicates that, “While the Minister of Health continues to report that they have closed, they continue to operate and to negotiate with the President's Office on continuing operations.”
We regret any confusion.
